Paper making machine and method of making web material



Oct. 4, 1932. E, E, BERRY 1,880,686

PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING WEB MATERIAL Filed Nov. 17, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 08%. 4, 1932., E E, BERgY 1,880,686

PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING WEB MATERIAL Filed 'Nov. 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 if (Fa 7'2 61. Ear/go ct. 4, 1932. E. E. BERRY 7 1,880,686

PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING WEB MATERIAL Filed Nov. 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 000 oooooooooo OOO V5.17? UR far] (51 fierryo @ct. 4, 1932. I E BERRY 1,88@,686

PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING WEB MATERIAL Filed Nov. 1'7, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARL E. BERRY, OF BELOIT, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BELOIT IRON WORKS, OE IBELOIT,

WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN PAPER MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD OF MAKING WEB MATERIAL Application filed November 17, 1930. Serial No. 496,146.

This invention relates to a paper making machine and more particularly to the construction and method of operation of the wet end of a paper machine, including the forming portion and presses. The invention also includes a novel method of making web material.

In my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,833,351, entitled Paper making machine, filed July 15, 1929 and granted November 24, 1931, I have described a novel type of paper making machine wherein the stock upon its flow onto the forming wire is immediately subjected to suction and a substantially continuous suction is applied to the forming wire until a moist web has been formed. An apparatus such as described and claimed in my previous application has the very marked advantage over the usual type of Fourdrinier machine of requiring much less space and in greatly lengthening the life of the forming wire, as well as in simplicity of structure and ease of operation.

The present invention relates to improvements in connection with the type-of paper -machine forming the subject matterof my patent referred .to above. These improvements include the use of novel means for effecting a more uniform and even distribution of stock onto the forming wire to prevent the formation of eddy currents and to insure a well formed'sheet. My improvements also contemplate the use with a machine of the type previously described of a suction couch roll, a pick-up felt and suction press rolls, or any combination of these accessory web forming means. 7

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a paper machine in which the stock as it flows onto the machine is immediately subjected to the action of the suction and wherein a stock flow evening and distributing device is employed to deliver the stock onto the forming wire in a manner calculated to produce a well formed sheet.

It is a further important object of this invention to provide improved cooperating means and mechanism for extracting water from the stock after flowing onto the form- Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification'and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 isa front side elevational view of a forming portion of-av paper machine embodying the principles of my invention, shown 'more or less diagrammatically and with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally of the forming part of the machine andtransverse- 1y of the stock distributing device.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View of the forming portion of the machine, with parts removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line IVIV of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line V'V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a first press arrangement employing a pick-up felt, with the forming portion of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic View of a modified first press arrangement showing a suc tion press roll.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a further modification of the first press arrangement, showing a suction couch roll and suction press roll.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan dew of the suction device.

As shown on the drawingsi The reference numeral .10 indicates the sup-porting frame of a table structure, in cluding side beams 11 mounted for lateral removal upon tracks 13 and 14. The specific structure for the removal of the table portion 1 need not be described, since many forms of construction for 'this purpose are well known in the art. v

A forming Wire 15, trained around a roll 16 at one end of the machine and a couch roll 17 at the other end of the table structure,

The suction device 18, which embodies the features shown in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,833,351 referred to above, comprises a stationary box-like, hollow member 20, preferably formed in a plurality of transversely divided sections, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 26, each section forming a separate suction unit wherecondition.

in the degree of suction may be individually controlled and varied to suit the operating The stationary suction member '20 is supported upon the-side beam 11 by means of brackets 27 (Figure 3).

Rolls 28 and 29, suitably journaled in bearing supports 30 and 31, respectively, are mounted from the side beams 11 at the head and couch roll end of the suction member 20, respectively.

An endless perforate cover, or belt 32, is trained around the rolls 28 and 29 to pas over the open top of the suction member 20. One of said rolls 28 or 29 is adapted to be suitably driven (driving means not shown) to cause the belt 32 to travel with. the forming wire 15 at the same rate of speed.

Between the roll 29 and the couch roll 17 there is mounted on the side beams 11 a roll 33, preferably of the same size as the roll 29. A wire 34 of rather coarsermesh than that of the forming wire 15 is trained around the roll 33 and the roll 16 to cooperate with the traveling belt 32 in supporting the upper run of the forming wire 15 as it passes over the suction device 20. The lower run of the coarser wire 34 passes around a roll 35 and joins the forming wire 15 as itpasses around a forward roll 12.

Each of the separate suction units 21 to 26 inclusive (Figures 1 to 5 inclusive) is connected by means of a suction pipe 41 to a separator having a lower barometric leg 43 extending into a well 44 for receiving the water extracted from the stock and web on the forming wire 15. A blower fan 45 is suitably connected by means of a pipe 46 and connections 47 to the upper ends of the separators 42 to :1 ply the desired degree of suction to the units 21 to 26 inclusive. A pump 48 may be used to return white water from the well 44 for further use in the proces.

In the upper portion of the hollow suction member 20 are mounted a plurality of longi: tudinally extending troughs 49 (Figures 3 to 5 inclusive). Such troughs 49 are adapted to be filled with water through connecting nipples 50 from a plurality of transversely extendin pipes 51, extending through the rear wall of the suction member 20. Each of said pipes 51 is'connected to a standpipe 52, sup plied with water from an inlet valve controlled pipe 53 and provided with an over- 1,aso,eac

The troughs 49 (Figure 3) comprise rela- I tively shallow boxes, preferably of rectangular cross section, extending the full length of the suction member 20 and supported therefrom on ribs 57. Each of the troughs 49 is spaced from its next adjacent trough by means of integrally formed webs 58, whereby relatively long, narrow openings 59 (Figure 9) are provided between adjacent troughs 49 intermediate their ends. The top faces 60 of said troughs 49, as well as the top faces of the integrally formed transverse webs 58 are machined to provide plane surfaces for supporting the traveling cover or belt 32. The end walls 62 ofsaid troughs 49 are provided with aligned communicating passages 63, opening upwardly as at 64, between adjacent trough ends. Vater is supplied tothe passages 63 by means of the pipe 65 under just suflicient pressure to keep the water see ing out through the openings 64 to provi e a seal between the suction member 20 and the traveling'belt or cover 32.

The traveling belt 32 is formed in a plurality of sections 66, each having a base portion 67 igure 3) of slightly greater width than the trough 49 for resting on the'upper machined edges 60 thereof. The belt-like sections 66 are preferably formed of rubber or other resilient material, and are provided with transversely extending ribs 69 extending upwardly from the base portions 67 and preferably formed integrally therewith. Between successive ribs 69, the base portion of the belt section 66 are cut away, as at 72, to provide openings through which the water extracted from the web on the wire may drain into the bottom portion of the suction member 20. It will be noted that the-width of the belt-like section 66 is such that the openings 72 lie over the longitudinally extending openings 59 between adjacent troughs 49, so that the water drained from the sheet is free to pass through the openings 72 and 59 into the various sections of the box-like suction member 20. The lateral edges of the belt 66 lie in abutting relation, as at 73, except in the case of the outside belt whose outer edges 74 abut the inside faces of the extended portions 85 of the side rails 86 (Figure 3) Deckle straps 75, trained around deckle pulleys 76, overlie the marginal portions of the forming wire 15, coarser wire 34 and outer belts 32 and abut against the vertical faces 84 of extension side rails 85 secured to the main side rails 86. A groove 87 is formed along each of the inner faces 84 of the side rails 85 for supplying Water to seal the joint thus, formed between the deckel strap, wire and side rail.

. its lower edge above the forming The forming structure of the paper machine thus far described is substantially that described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,- 833,351 above referred to, except that the coarser wire 34 is employed in the present structure to support the forming wire on the corrugations of the traveling cover or belt 32 to prevent the closing up of the openings in the wire, such as might take place if the wire rested directly upon the corrugations of the traveling belt 32.

An added feature of my present invention is the provision of a stock delivery means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 90. This means includes a stock delivery cylinder 91 mounted for rotation directly above the first one or two sections 21 and 22 of the suction device 20 and extending transversely of the forming wire 15 and beyond the edges thereof. The cylinder 91 is equipped at each end with an annular supporting ring 92 mounted to rotate on rollers 93 and 94, which in turn are supported on a suitable frame structure. This frame structure suitably comprises a pair of end walls 95 resting on and supported from the side rails 86. A wall 97, also secured to the end walls 96 and spaced at wire 15 as at 98 (Figure 2) extends transversely of the wire to serve as a retaining wall for a pond of stock 99, that is created above the forming wire. One or more slices 100 forms an adj ustable fourth retaining-wall for-the pond of Stock 99, the slice being also supported from the end walls 95 and being vertically adjustable by suitable mechanism 101. Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the cylinder 91 at different speeds, such means being here shown as a sprocket wheel 102 on the cylinder 91 driven through reducing gears by a sprocket'chain 103 from an electric motor 104.

Stock is delivered by a pipe 89 into the interior of the rotating cylinder 91 through one or both ends thereof by means of a conduit 105 extending the full length of the cylinder and having on its upper side a longitudinally extending slot 106 and on its lower side a plurality of apertures 107. The stock feed conduit 105 is stationarily supported by suitable means, as by a bracket 108 at each end. It should be understood that any suitable means may be employed for preparing the stockfor delivery to the interior of the cylinder 91.

The longitudinal slot 106 and the spaced apertures 107 allow the escape of stock both upwardly, and downwardly to prevent set tling out and the accumulation of any stock within the conduit 105. As indicated in Figure 2, the stock fills the conduit 105 and discharges through the longitudinal slot 106 down over the sides of said conduit 105 into the rotating drum 91, building up a head within the drum, the amount of head depending primarily on the adjustment of the slice and the rate of delivery of stock to the conduit. While I prefer to dischargethe stock into the interior of the drum through the agency of a tubular conduit of suitable diaminner section 110 supported from the conduit 105. Escape of stock through the joints between the walls and the periphery of the cylinder 91 and between the interior of the cylinder 91 andthe inner wall sections 110 is prevented by suitable packing 111.

The stock delivery cylinder 91 is of a foraminous construction throughout its length intermediate the inner section walls 11.0 and in its preferred embodiment comprises a cylinder having rows of small holes 112 closely arrangedtogether and through which the stock flows into the pond 99 defined by the walls 95, 97 and slice 100. These holes provide nozzle-like delivery orifices which serve to mixithe fibers of the stock as it passes through and to break up any bunches or collections of fiber, if any should reach this point on the machine. The stock thus flows onto the wire in this condition of uniform distribution and absence of eddy currents.

In connection with the rotating cylinder 91, there is provided in the interior thereof a. trough 113 with an outlet pipe 114 and a shower pipe 115 mounted above said trough for cleaning the interior of the cylinder. A doctor 116 adjustably secured to one wall of the trough 113 is adapted to scrape against the interior surface of the rotating drum 91 to causev any dirt or water adhering thereto to flow down into the trough 113. A similarly adjustably mounted doctor 117 is arranged externally of the drum 91 to scrape its outer surface.

In addition to the. rotating drum 91, there is also provided a further mechanism for producing an even and uniform flow of stock and for preventing the uneven settling of fibers in the pond 99, comprising a plurality of reciprocally mounted agitating members 118 (Figures 2, 4 and 5). Each of the agitating devices 118 comprises a bar 119 pivotally connected, as at120, to a link 121 ec- 1 centrically mounted, as at 123, upon a shaft 124. Said shaft 124 is adapted to be driven through, a chain 125 from the driving shaft of the motor 104. Said bars 119 are provided with spaced, transversely extending blades 126 which are slightly spaced above the forming wire 15 and when oscillated by means of the driving means described and eccentric 123 serve to keep the stock in gentle agitation to prevent uneven or too 'rapid settling out in the pond 99.

Itwill lie apparent from the foregoing description that as soon as the stock passes into the interior of the rotating foraminous drum 91, it is subjected to suction acting through the traveling belt 3:2, the coarser wire 3-1 and the forming wire 15 as itpasses over the hollow suction member 20. The result is that an initial deposit of the fibers occurs before the stock ever passes out from the pond 99 under the lower edge vof the slice 100. Due to the fact that there is no great velocity of flow in the direction of the wire within the pond 99, settling is effected under relatively quiescent conditions and due to the distributing and evening action of the rotating foraminous drum 91 and the agitating devices 118, the deposit of stock on the forming wire prior to its passage beyond the slice 100 re sults in an initial felting of the fibers. Be cause the fibers have no common general direct-ion but are pointing in all directions. this initial felting is closely similar to what occurs in the formation of hand made sheets.

' This obviously makes for the formation of a sive, all as previously explained.

v Completion of the formation'of the web after it leaves the suction member 20 may be effected in various ways. as shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive. In Figure 6. there is shown a pick-up felt 130 associated with the first set of press rolls 131 and with a top couch roll 132. Said pick-up felt 130 is trained to pass through the.upper and lower rolls of the first press 131? after picking up the web from the couch roll 17. A lower first press felt 133 cooperates with the pick-up felt 130 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. In passing through the first press 131, the web of paper is subjected to pressure to squeeze out further quantities of water and to further complete the formation of the web. The arrangement of pick-up felt 130, as shown in Figure 6, is especially adapted for use in connection with light weight paper.

In Figure 7 there is shown a similar arrangement except that the lower press roll the pressure exerted by the top ress roll, in

effecting a substantial drying o the web.

In Figure 8 there is shown a first set of presses 137 and a felt 138 associated therewith. The couch roll in this case is a suction couch roll 139. The web 140 bridges the gap between the suction couch roll 139 and the traveling felt 7, 138, by means of which it is then carried through the first presses 137. The lower press roll 141 of the first ress 137 may also be a suction press roll. t will be apparent that in the combination shown in Figure 8-, the mechanism for extracting water from the stock leading to the formation of the web includes the suction device 20 of the main forming part of the machine, the suction couch roll 139, the presses 137 and the lower suction press rolls 141, all of these means cooperating to ether in the speed and efiicient removal of water from the stoc and web as for-med.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, -and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a paper machine, a forming wire, a suction device associated therewith and a revolving reticular drum mounted over the wire and suction device through which the stock flows onto said wire.

2. In a paper machine, a forming wire, a. suction device associated therewith, means forming a pond over a portion of the wire subject to the action of said suction device and a revolving reticular drum mounted in said pond through which the stock flows onto said wire.

3. In a paper machine, a stationary suction device, a forming wire traveling thereover, means including a slice defining upon said wire an enclosed space, a perforated drum mounted transversely of said wire within said space and means for introducing stock into said drum to flow through the perforations thereof.

4. In a paper machine, a stationary suction device, a forming wire traveling thereover, means including a slice defining upon said wire an enclosed space, a perforated drum rotatably mounted transversely of said wire within said space and a slotted pipe for introducing stock into said drum to flow through the perforations thereof.

5. In a paper machine, a stationary suction device, a forming wire traveling thereover, means including a slice defining upon said wire an enclosed space above said suction device, a perforated drum 'rotatably mounted transversely of said wire within said space and means for introducing stock therebetween, a forming wire trained around said rolls to travel over said suction device, members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of said wire subjected to suction and a rotatable perforated drum having a stock inlet mounted within said pond definingmembers.

8. In a paper machine, a pair of spaced rolls, a stationary suction device positioned therebetween, a forming Wire trained around said rolls to travel over said suction device, members including a slice defining a pond-for stock over a portion of said wire subjected to suction, a rotatable perforated drum mounted transversely of the-length of the forming wire within said pond defining members and means for distributing stock within said perforated drum.

9. In a paper machine, a pair of spaced rolls, a stationary suction device positioned therebetween, a forming wire trained around said rolls to travel over said suction device, members including a slicedefining a pond for stock over a porti n of said wire subjected to suction, a rotatable perforated drum extending the full width of said forming wire and positioned slightly thereabove enclosed by said pond defining members and a longitudinally slotted conduit within said drum for distributing stock uniformly therein.

10. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, and endless forming wire trained therearound, a stationary suction device operatively associated with the greater portion of the upper run of the wire, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock above a portion of said wire subjected to suction andimeans within said walls for uniformly distributing stock to said pond and maintaining a head of stock ahead of said slice.

11. In a paper machine, a'plurality of spaced parallel rolls, an endless forming wire trained therearound, a stationary suction device operatively associated with the greater portion of the upper run of the wire, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock above a portion of said Wire subjected to suction and a rotatably mounted perforated roll having a stock inlet for uniformly distributin stock to said pond and maintaining a head of stock ahead of said slice,

12. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, and endless forming wire trained therearound, a stationary suction device operatively associated with the greater portion of the upper run of the wire, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock above a portion of said wire subjected to suction, a perforated drum extending transversely of the wire the full width thereof and rotatably mounted to revolve within said pond and means for introducing stock into the inside of said drum.

13. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, an endless forming wire trained therearound, a stationary suction device operatively associated with the greater portion of the upper run of the wire, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock above a portion of said wire subjected to suction, a perforated drum extending transversely of the wire the full width thereof and rotatably mounted to revolve within said pond and a longitudinally slotted conduit extending the length of said drum for introducing stock into the inside of said drum.

14. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, an endless forming wire trained therearound, a stationary suction de-' vice operatively associated with the greater portion of the upper run of the wire, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock above a portion of said wire subjected to suction, a perforated drum extending transversely of the wire the full width thereof and rotatably mounted slightly above said wire to revolve within said pond and a longitudinally slotted conduit extending the length of said drum for introducing stock into the inside of said drum.

15. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, an outer forming wire traveling thereover and trainedtherearound,

a sectional hollow suction member positioned within the loop of the forming wire, an endless perforated belt operatively associated with said suction member through which suction is applied to the forming wire, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subjected to suction and a rotating flow evener and stock mixing cylinder in the path of the stock flowing to said pond. I I

16. In a paper machine, aplurality of spaced parallel rolls, an outer forming wire traveling thereover and trained therearound, a sectional hollow suction member positioned within the loop of the forming wire, an endless perforated belt operatively associated with saidsuction member through which suction is applied to the forming wire, a relatively coarse wire traveling with and between said belt and forming wire over the surface of said hollow suction member, walls including a slice defining a pond for stock over a port-ion of the forming wire subjected to suc- 9 der through which stock flows to said pond 5 of said rolls and said suction couch roll, a

. hollow suction member having an upper sur-* flow evener and stock tion and a rotatin he path of the stock flowmixing cylinder in t ing to said pond.

17 In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls, an outer forming wire traveling thereover and trained therearound, a sectional hollow suction member positioned within the loop of the forming wire, an endless perforated belt of flexible material operatively associated with said suction member through which suction is applied to the formmg wire, walls including a slice defining a eluding a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subjected to suction, a perforated drum rotatably mounted in slightly spaced relation to the forming wire within said pond and means for introducing stock into the interior of said drum for flow through the perforations thereof.

19. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an up r surface provided with openings under. t e upper run of the" forming wire and coextensive with the ater portion of length of said upper run 0 wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming ware and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction and a rotating flow evener and stock mixing cylinto maintain a head of stock ahead of said slice. 20. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel-rolls including a suction couch roll, a forming wiretrained around certain face provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction and a rotating flow evener and stock mixing cylinder through which stock flows to said pond to maintain a head of stock ahead of said slice. Y 21. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and-coextensivewith the greater portion of'length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and travel ing over the open upper surface of said suction member, means for hydraulically balancing said belt with respect to the'downward pressure upon it due to suction, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction and a rotating flow evener and stock mixing cylinder through which stock flows to said pond to maintain a head of stock ahead of said slice. v

22. In a paper machine, a plurality. of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run ofwire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveltion member, means for hydraulically balancing said belt with respect to the downward pressure upon it due to suction, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said ing'overthe open upper surface of said suc- .rolls to travel with the upper runsof said,

belt and forming wire and therebetween, said belt having a corrugated upper surface for contact with said coarse wire, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction and a rotating flow evener and stock mixing cylinder through which stock flows to said pond to maintain a head of stock ahead of said slice.

. 23. In a paper machine. a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll. a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls andsaid couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said u per run of wir a flexible endless perforate belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction and a rotating perforated cylinder through which stock flows to said end to maintain a head of stock ahead of said slice.

24. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel'rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, means for hydraulically balancing said belt with respect to the downward pressure upon it due to suction, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween,

said belt having a corrugated upper surface for contact with said coarse wire, wall memhere including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire sub- 1 ject to suction and a rotating perforated cylinder through which stock flows to said pond to maintain a head of stock ahead of saidslice.

25. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, arelatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suetion, a rotating perforated drum mounted in said pond in spacedrelation above said forming wire and a slotted conduit for distributing stock within said drum for passage through the perforations thereof.

26. In a paper machine, a plurality of ,spaced parallel rolls including acouch roll. a'formmg wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, means for hydraulically balancing said belt with respect to the downward pressure upon it due to suction, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction, a rotating perforated drum mounted in said pond in spaced relation above said forming wire and a slotted conduit for distributing stock within said drum for passage through the perforations thereof.

27, In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll. a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, means for hydraulically balancing said belt with respect to the down ward pressure upon it due to suction, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, said belt having a corrugated upper surface for contact with said coarse wire, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction, a rotating perforated drum mounted in said pond in spaced relation' above said forming wire and a slotted conduit for distributing stock within said drum for passage through the perforations thereof.

28. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said rolls and said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire. a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suetion member, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction, a rotat ing perforated drum mounted in said pond in spaced relation above said forming wire andfaslotted conduit for distributing stock within said drum for passage through the perforations thereof.

29. In a paper machine, a plurality of spaced parallel rolls including a couch roll, a forming wire trained around certain of said .rolls and-said couch roll, a hollow suction member having an upper surface provided with openings under the upper run of the forming wire and coextensive with the greater portion of length of said upper run of wire, a flexible endless perforated belt trained around certain other of said rolls and traveling over the open upper surface of said suction member, means for hydraulically balancing said belt with respect to the downward pressure uponit due to suction, a relatively coarse wire trained around certain of said rolls to travel with the upper runs of said belt and forming wire and therebetween, said belt having a corrugated upper surface 'for a contact with said coarse wire, wall members including a slice defining a pond for stock over a portion of the forming wire subject to suction, a rotating perforated drum mounted in said pond in spaced relation above said forming wire and a slotted conduit for disforming portion comprising a forming wire, a stationary suction device for continuously applying suction to the forming wire from the'point of initial deposition of stock thereon until a coherent web is formed, a suction couch roll, means for delivering stock to a portion of said forming wire subject to the suction of said suction device, a pickup felt for picking up the wet web of paper from said suction couch roll and a suction press associated with said pick-up felt for eXtracting further quantities of water from the paper web.

34. The method of forming a web of paper which comprises delivering stock to a traveling foraminous surface subjected to acon tinuous suction along its travel from the point of initial delive of stock thereon until a coherent web is formed, causing said foraminous surface and supported partially formed web -to pass over a rotating perfo rated surface through which suction is applied, picking up said partially formed web from said foraminous surface on a traveltributing stock within said drum for passage ing felt and subjecting said felt and web through the perforations thereof.

30. In a paper machine, a forming wire, means for delivering stock thereto, stationary means for continuously applying suction to said wire along its travel from the place of initial delivery of stock thereon until a coherent web of paper is formed, a suction couch roll, a pickup felt coacting with said suction couch roll to transfer the wet web of paper from the wire thereon and a suction press associated with said pickup felt for extracting further quantities of \filtel from the paper web.

31. In a paper machine, a web forming portion comprising a forming wire, means for delivering stock thereto, stationary means for continuously applying suction to said wire and stock thereonalong-its travel from the point of delivery of stock to the point where a coherent web is formed, a suction couch roll around which said forming wire sheet which comprises delivering paper stock to the forming wire of apaper machine from a pond created over said forming wire and supplying continuous suctionto the under part of the forming wire from the time the stock is initially deposited thereon lmtil a coherentweb is formed.

33. In a paper making machme, a web thereon to pressure.

35. The method of forming a web of aper which comprises delivering stock to a or ing wire subject to suction, continuously ap plying. suction to said forming wire along 1ts travel from the point of initial delivery of stock thereon until a vfibrous web is formed to remove the greater portion of the water therefrom, picking up the fibrous webfrom said wire and subjecting said web to pressure to extract further quantities of water.

36. The method of forming a web of paper which comprises delivering stock to' a traveling forming wiresubject to suction, continuously applying suction to said forming wire along its travel from the initial deposition of stock thereon until a coherent web is formed to remove the greater portion of the water therefrom, picking up the partially formed paper web from said wire and subjecting said web to combined pressure and suction to extract further quantities of water.

37. The method of formmg a web of paper which comprises delivering stock to a traveling forming wire subject to suction, continuously applying suction to said forming wire along its travel from the point of initial delivery of stock thereon until a coherent web is formedto remove the greater portion of the water therefrom, subsequently passing said wire and partially formed web over a perforated rotating surface through which suction is applied, picking up the partially formed paper web from said wire and subjecting said web to pressure to extract further quantities of water.

which comprises delivering stock to a traveling forming wire subject to suction, cont nuously applying suctionto said forming wire 38. The method of forming aweb of paper f iatalong its travel from the point of initial de osition of stock thereon until a coherent we is formed to remove the greater portion of the water therefrom, picking up the partially formed paper web from said wire on v a pick-up felt and subjecting said web and pick-up felt to combined pressure and suction to extract further quantities of water.

39. The process of making paper which comprises forming a relatively quiescent pond of stock over a portion of a traveling Fourdrinier wire of a paper machine, and continuously applying uninterrupted suction through said wire to effect a. deposition of fibers from said pond and to remove the greater portion of water from said deposited fibers before passing beyond the action of said suction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin.

EARL E. BERRY. 

